Mandrel construction for paint roller

ABSTRACT

An improved mandrel construction for paint rollers characterized by the provision of a laterally movable inboard mandrel and a fixed outboard mandrel with the outboard mandrel having generally yieldable fingers normally engaging the interior of a replacement roller cover telescoped thereover. Mating locking surfaces are provided on the inboard and outboard mandrels so that when the two are brought together by relative axial movement and the locking surfaces thereof interengage, the fingers on the outboard mandrel are contracted to permit the roller cover to relatively freely fall therefrom.

I United States Patent 1151 3,638,27 1 Pharriset al. 1 Feb. 1, 1972 [54] MANDREL CONSTRUCTION FOR 3,119,137 l/l964 Schueller ..15/230.11 PAINT ROLLER 3,145,451 8/1964 Christensen. ..29/l l7 3,229.3l9 l/l966 Goetz ..l5/230.ll 1 Inventors John Phams, Milwaukee, 4 Giwn- 3,335,446 8/1967 McGinley ..15/230.11

to C. DErcoli, Park Forest, Ill. 73 2 El i C ti Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum Asslgnee Pa n r on Anorney Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [221 Filed: Jan. 29, I970 21 AppldNo; 6,671 ABSTRACT An improved mandrel construction for paint rollers characterized by the provision of a laterally movable inboard man- 'i drel and a fixed outboard mandrel with the outboard mandrel [58] Field /27 6 H 248 having generally yieldable fingers normally engaging the in- "f terior of a replacement roller cover telescoped thereover. l 401/197 220 Mating locking surfaces are provided on the inboard and outboard mandrels so that when the two are brought together by [56] References relative axial movement and the locking surfaces thereof in- UNITED STATES PATENTS terengage, the fingers on the outboard mandrel are contracted to permit the roller cover to relatively freely fall therefrom. 2,977,671 4/1961 Wiegand ..29/l 16 R 3,060,555 10/1962 Kirshenbaum et al. ..l5/230.l l X 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 7 [5 0 1'' I l 72 1' i. T I -2 -26 l 4 I l I 60 .54

MANDREL CONSTRUCTION FOR PAINT ROLLER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an improvement in paint roller assemblies.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Paint roller assemblies incorporating a handle, an offset rodlike connecting member terminating in a transversely extending axle with mandrel means thereon for supporting a replacement sleevelike roller cover are well known in the art. Generally speaking, the replacement roller cover-is held onto the mandrel for rotation therewith by means of frictional retention exerted against the interior of the roller cover core. Sometimes the force of this frictional retention is difficult to overcome when removing the roller cover or replacing a new roller cover on the mandrel construction. This difficulty is made more problematical when the roller cover being removed contains a quantity of paint and it is desirable to either dispose of the roller cover or clean the same. In this event, the user may have to grasp the sleevelike roller cover itself and thus may transfer a considerable amount of paint to his hands or the like during the extraction effort.

This specific invention is directed to fulfilling a need and desire for providing a simplified means for roller cover removal and the subject matter of the invention is directed to a two-part mandrel construction, one of which includes resilient finger portions which bear against the interior of a roller cover sleeve. In this connection, it is believed that the most pertinent prior art known to the applicants includes Wiegand US. Pat. No. 2,977,671 and Schueler US. Pat. No. 3,] l9,l37.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved mandrel assembly for paint roller structures.

The best mode currently contemplated by us for carrying out the invention includes a paint roller assembly with a mandrel axle and a pair of normally spaced mandrels thereon. The inboard mandrel is preferably axially slidable along the length of the axle towards the outboard mandrel which is fixed in position on the axle. The outboard mandrel is provided with generally axially extending, and slightly radially enlarged resilient fingers which are intended to normally frictionally engage the interior or core of a replaceable roller cover. These retention fingers terminate in generally axially and radially inwardly extending cam surfaces. The inboard member is provided with finger-locking elements which are intended to ride over the cam surfaces of the outboard mandrel and compress the fingers thereof together slightly thereby causing a reduction in the radial extension thereof to permit the replaceable roller cover to be easily removed from the mandrel assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paint roller assembly incorporating the improved mandrel construction of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a portion of the paint roller assembly showing the mandrels of this invention in a locked position wherein the inboard mandrel is compressing the locking fingers of the outboard mandrel and the replaceable paint roller sleeve may be easily assembled thereover or withdrawn therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the inboard and outboard mandrels disengaged from each other with the replaceable roller sleeve being assembled thereon and the retaining fingers of the outboard mandrel in firm frictional engagement with the interior of the roller sleeves; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Paint roller assembly 10 includes the usual handle 12 and a rod support 14 including an offset connecting portion 16 and a generally transversely extending axle portion 18. A pair of mandrels, such as inboard mandrel 20 and outboard mandrel 22, are rotatably mounted on axle 18 with one of the mandrels being axially slidable relative to the other as will be explained later. The mandrels are intended for supporting a removable sleevelike roller cover 24 including the rigid core 26 and generally pilelike paint transfer and applicating surface 28 which may be made of natural or synthetic fibers.

The inboard mandrel 20 includes a hub 30 having a generally hollow sleevelike interior 32 of a size and shape to rotatably embrace the axle portion 18. Hub 30 is connected to rear wall 34 which has a cylindrical rim portion 36 integrally joined therewith. The juncture of rim portion 36 with rear wall 34 is reduced relative to the diameter of rear wall 34 at that point resulting in the transverse shoulder 38. Rear wall 34 has offset wall portions 34a spaced well rearwardly of shoulder 38. Rim 36 terminates in an open end 40 and a radially inwardly directed circumferential head 42 is provided at the open end. A freely slidable washer 44 resides in recessed portion 45 of rear wall 34 to provide a bearing means assisting in the free rotatable mounting of inboard mandrel 20 against an inboard stop (not shown).

The outboard mandrel 22 also has a hub portion 46 with a generally hollow sleevelike interior 48 generally of a size and shape to rotatably embrace axle 18. In the illustrated embodiment, a washer 50 is positioned between the inboard end of hub 46 and ribs 52 protruding from axle 18 to hold mandrel 22 against movement inwardly of the axle 18. In addition, a fastener 54 is positioned over the free end of axle l8 and abuts the outboard end of hub 46 to hold the hub against movement in the opposite direction. By this arrangement, the mandrel 22 is rotatably mounted on axle l8 and held against any axial movement relative thereto. 1

A plurality of spaced ribs 56, here shown as four in number, extend from hub 46 to annular rear wall 58 adjacent opening 60 therein. A generally cylindrical rim portion 62 is connected to rear wall 58. This portion is intended to be of reduced diameter relative to the core 26 of a replaceable cover 24 intended to be telescoped thereover. A circumferential groove 64 is formed at the exterior of the juncture of rim 62 and rear wall 58 for receiving the annular inwardly directed bead 66 of a replaceable end cap 68 which is removably associated w th the mandrel 22. l

The inner or free end of rim 62 is provided with a plurality of axially extending slits 70 providing a plurality of yieldable fingers 72. The outer diameter of each of these fingers increases slightly toward the free ends thereof affording a small outward bevel to the exterior of the fingers 72. It is intended that the bevel would be of a sufficient enlargement to cause the exterior fingers 72 to normally snugly frictionally engage the interior of a core 26 of a replaceable roller cover 24 as best seen in FIG. 3.

Fingers 72 terminate in transverse shoulders 74 which, in turn, terminate in annular seats 76 generally of a size and shape to nestably receive the beads 42 at the free ends of rim 36 of inboard mandrel 20. Each seat 76 returns slightly radially outwardly again and terminates in an axially forwardly and radially inwardly directed bevel or frustoconical cam surface 78.

The theory of cooperation of the two mandrels is that when the inboard mandrel 20 is pushed toward the outboard mandrel 22, the frustoconical cam surfaces 78 of outboard mandrel 22 will cause the free end 40 of rim portion 36 of inboard mandrel 20 to expand slightly, it being understood that it is preferable that both mandrels be made of a slightly yieldable plastic material. As the bead portion 42 of inboard mandrel 20 advances along cam surface 78, it will reach the area of the annular groove 76 and become lodged therein. In so doing, this brings the rim fingers 72 towards the hub 46, or, in other words, slightly compresses the fingers to reduce the effective diameter of the mandrel 22, preferably to bring it just slightly undersize with respect to the inner diameter of core 26 of roller cover 24.

Ideally, this locked or engaged position of the two mandrels 20 and 22 which causes constriction or reduction in the diameter of the outboard mandrel is the position for both assembling and removing a replaceable roller cover 28 onto the roller assembly 10. With the two mandrels in the engaged or locked position as shown in FIG. 2, a roller cover may be telescoped thereover until it abuts shoulder 38 at the juncture of the rear wall and the rim portion of mandrel 20. Continued movement of the roller cover in the direction indicated by the arrows A in FIG. 3, causes the two mandrels to become disengaged with the rim fingers 72 of mandrel 22 spreading slightly farther apart and in firm frictional engagement with the interior of the roller cover. This frictional engagement is not of sufficient magnitude however to prevent the axial sliding of roller cover 24 in a direction towards the inboard end of the roller assembly.

When the roller cover 24 has been pushed until the washer 44 adjacent rear wall 34 of mandrel 20 abuts well-known stop means similar to those ribs or stop means 52 shown in FIG. 2, the assembly is complete with the mandrels spaced apart and held in such a spaced condition by the frictional retention of roller cover 24 with respect to rim fingers 72 and mandrel 20 and the cooperation between shoulder 38 and the opposite end of the roller cover. This means of assembly insures that the user will have initial proper registration of the sleevelike roller cover over the two mandrels. Moreover, it is much easier than attempting to assemble the roller cover wherein the mandrels are maintained spaced apart, with the roller cover first being telescoped over the outboard mandrel and subsequently efforts are made to obtain registration of the interior of the roller cover and the exterior or rim portion 36 of the inboard mandrel.

Another distinct advantage of the mandrel construction of this invention arises during removal of a roller cover 24 from the paint roller assembly 10. Here the operation is reversed. Preferably, finger or thumb pressure is applied against end wall 34 of inboard mandrel 20 to slide the same axially along axle 18 toward outboard mandrel 22. Though some manual force must be exerted, the frictional retention of fingers 72 against the interior of the roller cover 24 can be overcome. This advancement is continued until such time as the bead 42 at the interior of the open end 40 of inboard mandrel 20 begins riding upwardly and outwardly along frustoconical cam surface 78 of outboard mandrel 22. As previously explained, this continues until bead 42 seats in groove 46 and the end of rim 36 abuts shoulder 74. At this time, the fingers 72 are constricted and the diameter of this portion of the outboard mandrel 22 is reduced. This permits the roller cover to be easily removed from the mandrel through the influence of gravity. it should be noted that during this operation there is no necessity for the user's hands to actually touch the roller cover 24 and, in particular, the paint-holding pile 28 thereof. The entire removal operation can be accomplished by pushing against the end wall 34 of inboard mandrel 20 until such time as the two mandrels engage, following which the roller cover 24 may be simply dropped from the roller assembly.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A paint roller assembly including a handle portion and an axle portion comprising: a first mandrel slidably and rotatabl? mounted on the axle, said first mandrel having a hub, rear wa 1 means connected to the hub and a generally cylindrical rim portion connected to the rear wall means and terminating in a generally open end having radial reductions thereat providing a finger-constricting element; and a second mandrel rotatably mounted on the axle, means operable between said second mandrel and axle to prevent slidable movement of said second mandrel, said second mandrel having a hub and a generally cylindrical rim with means interconnecting the hub and rim, and slits formed in the rim to provide yieldable fingers with free ends facing generally towards the open end of the first mandrel, the fingers having portions of increased radius for normally frictionally engaging the interior of a roller cover assembled thereover, finger-constricting element seat means on the free ends of the fingers forwardly of the portion of increased radius, said first mandrel finger-constricting element being adapted to engage said second mandrel fingers to move the same radially inwardly and to occupy said seat means when said first mandrel is moved into engagement with said second mandrel.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a finger constriction member spreading and guiding surface forwardly of the seat means on the free ends of the fingers.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the means interconnecting the hub portion and the rim portion of the second mandrel includes a rear wall to which the rim portion is connected and rib means extending from the rear wall to the hub portion.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the seat means comprises a generally cylindrical reduction on the free ends of the fingers.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the cylindrical reduction provides a radial shoulder extending generally transve rsely to the portions of the increased radius of the fingers.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the spreading and guiding surface comprises a generally frustoconical segmental portion on the free ends of the fingers.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the cylindrical reduction provides a radial shoulder extending generally transversely to the portions of the increased radius of the fingers. 

1. A paint roller assembly including a handle portion and an axle portion comprising: a first mandrel slidably and rotatably mounted on the axle, said first mandrel having a hub, rear wall means connected to the hub and a generally cylindrical rim portion connected to the rear wall means and terminating in a generally open end having radial reductions thereat providing a finger-constricting element; and a second mandrel rotatably mounted on the axle, means operable between said second mandrel and axle to prevent slidable movement of said second mandrel, said second mandrel having a hub and a generally cylindrical rim with means interconnecting the hub and rim, and slits formed in the rim to provide yieldable fingers with free ends facing generally towards the open end of the first mandrel, the fingers having portions of increased radius for normally frictionally engaging the interior of a roller cover assembled thereover, finger-constricting element seat means on the free ends of the fingers forwardly of the portion of increased radius, said first mandrel finger-constricting element being adapted to engage said second mandrel fingers to move the same radially inwardly and to occupy said seat means when said first mandrel is moved into engagement with said second mandrel.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including a finger constriction member spreading and guiding surface forwardly of the seat means on the free ends of the fingers.
 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the means interconnecting the hub portion and the rim portion of the second mandrel includes a rear wall to which the rim portion is connected and rib means extending from the rear wall to the hub portion.
 4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the seat means comprises a generally cylindrical reduction on the free ends of the fingers.
 5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the cylindrical reduction provides a radial shoulder extending generally transversely to the portions of the increased radius of the fingers.
 6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the spreading and guiding surface comprises a generally frustoconical segmental portion on the free ends of the fingers.
 7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the cylindrical reduction provides a radial shoulder extending generally transversely to the portions of the increased radius of the fingers. 